The Hunza Valley
The hunza valley is a mountainous valley in Gilgit-Baltsitan autonomous region an Area under the control of the government of Pakistan. The hunza valley is situated to north of the hunza river at an elevation of around 2500 meters (8,200ft). the territory of hunza is about 7,900 square kilometers (3,100 sq mi) hunza is just 100km drive from Gilgit, and most people arrive by road and it take almost 2-3 hours to reach hunza from Gilgit the main bus stand is on the KKH Aliabad. There are booking agent in town for long distance buses & jeeps along the KKH. The journey from Islamabad can take as long as 24 hours Gilgit.
From Kashgar (China) there is a regular bus service to hunza Sost crossing over the Khunjerab pass (About 5000 meter High).
Karimabad is the main town, which is also a very popular tourist destination because of the spectacular scenery of the Ulter Sar, Rakaposhi, Hunza Peak, Diran Peak Lady Finger Peak all 6000 meters (19685 ft) or high.
Hunza Valley’s tourist season is from May to October. The Temperature in May is Maximum 27 0C and Minimum 14 0C the October Temperatures are Maximum 10 0C and Minimum 0 0C .
Major Cities / Villages of Hunza
Aliabad
Ganish
Karimabad
Nasirabad
Passu
Sost
The Burusho of Hunza Valley
The people of Hunza also know as the Burusho the Burusho drive from the Burushas are know to inhabit three rugged mountainous areas of Gilgit-Baltsitan known as the hunza valley the Nagar valley and Yasin valleys. However most of the “Burusho” live in hunza valley. No one seems to known the exact origin of the Burusho but according to legend three soldiers from the Army of Alexander the great came and settled in hunza valley around 300 BC.
Another legend say that the Burusho were driven from Northern western India into Aryan invaders, for hundreds of years the territory of hunza was ruled by prince. Then from 1892 until 1949 the British ruled this territory. In 1949, Pakistan gained control of hunza. When a truce made by the United Nations brought and end to the fighting between Pakistan and India.
CULTURE
The hunza and Nagar Burusho their houses are built of concrete or stones and are not very warm during the winter session, kerosene is often use for heating because wood is are scare.
The Burusho people wearing Shawalar Qameez AND Traditional Woolen Caps.
The Burusho people eat mainly Fruits like grains and vegetables some of their favorite Peaches, Apricots, Nuts, Apples, Grapes and Mulberry.
Their favorite local dishes are Giyaling, Mulidha, Berekucz, Diram shuro and many more.
They raise sheep, Cattle and goats for milk and wool. the source of income of hunza people are agriculture, dried fruits selling, woolen product handicrafts and tourism and mining.
Hunza music is such a music which is sang in the deep valleys of Gilgit-Baltsitan for the music lovers is a strange string which is enjoyed lonely in the mountain valleys.
The spoken language of the hunza Burusho people is “Burushaski “ . it is their primary language.
